The Electric Skateboard Drive that fits under any Skateboard The Electric Skateboard Drive that fits under any Skateboard THE ENDLESS RIDE
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  1. You are here
  2. |Story

In 3 years from dream to dream product.

After more than 1000 days of nonstop designing, engineering and finetuning the Mellow Drive finally hit the streets in March 2017.

Mellow - Execution of a Dream Movie Mellow - Execution of a Dream Movie

What drives us

When we started Mellow we were just two guys sharing the dream of the Endless Ride. Today this dream has become a state of the art electric ride that has the potential to change the way we think about urban mobility. But Mellow is more than a product or a company. It’s a lifestyle that we feel committed to. We believe in what we do rather than in the money we might earn with it. As a team we bring a lot of professional skills to the table. And we use it to grow our vision, organic, like the food we like to eat. It’s the vision of you looking forward to your morning commute letting your hair flow as you surf to work. Leaving an impact, instead of a big carbon footprint.

Finally-on-stock Finally-on-stock

Finally on stock

From this day Mellow has officially transitioned from an inventing tech start-up for connoisseurs and geeks to a company where everyone can order a high tech product and unbox it within just three days.

German-Design-Award German-Design-Award

German Design Award

Once more the Mellow Drive makes his way into the spotlight. This time the jury of the renowned German Design Award grants its honors and confirms the high end quality of the product. Placing Mellow on the same level with brands like Daimler or Jil Sander. So proud!

Pre-Orders-fulfilled Pre-Orders-fulfilled

Pre-Orders fulfilled

Just in time for Christmas the team manages to send out Mellow boxes to all remaining pre-order customers. Now that all „debts“ are settled it’s time to take a deep breath and get ready for the 2018 season, when the Mellow Drive will finally be available from stock.

Release-of-the-Mellow-App Release-of-the-Mellow-App

Release of the Mellow App

With the App the Mellow Drive finally unfolds its 4th dimension. It displays your range in a live map and offers the worlds first riders licence for an e-skate. But most important: every rider can keep his Drive state of the art simply by downloading the latest firmware update. First upgrade: the Endless Ride Mode.

Terje-Haakonsen-goes-Mellow Terje-Haakonsen-goes-Mellow

Terje Haakonsen goes Mellow

You know that you’re doing the right thing, when one of your idols becomes a fan of your company. In April 2017 Terje Hakonsen walks into the Mellow lab for the first time. As a snowboard legend he inspired Johannes since he was a teenager. Equipping him with a Mellow Drive is his way of giving back. Stoked by the ride, Terje becomes one of the first brand ambassadors on a Mellow mission.

Kickstarter-fulfilled Kickstarter-fulfilled

Kickstarter fulfilled

This is probably one of the biggest milestones so far in the history of the company. More than 360 boxes have left the Mellow headquarters and all our kickstarter supporters are now proud owners of a Mellow Drive. What an epic ride up to this point! And this is just the beginning...

Red-Dot-Product-Design-Award Red-Dot-Product-Design-Award

Red Dot Product Design Award

Flashback: In December 2015 the team decided to push back delivery in favour of a fundamental redesign. Brave decision for a struggling start-up. But also a valuable one. One and a half years later the Mellow Drive wins the prestigious Red Dot Award and officially confirms the beauty of the beast.

Mello-Ready-Set-Deliver! Mello-Ready-Set-Deliver!

Ready, Set, Deliver!

The backers are more eager than sugared-up kids at Christmas to get their Drives and the Mellow team shares their joy and anticipation. After sleepless nights and new grey hairs, the first drives are ready to be assembled, boxed and shipped: the first Mellow Drives find their way to their new homes.

Mello-Beyond-The-Promises-On-Kickstarter Mello-Beyond-The-Promises-On-Kickstarter

Beyond the promises on Kickstarter

A difficult but valuable decision: shortly before product delivery, Nerdistan engineers make the strategic choice to upgrade the motor to be better, stronger and torquier. At this stage, other implemented features have gone way beyond Kickstarter specifications, doubling power on acceleration while adding shock and vibration proofing into the original motor design. Improvements, especially this late in the game, take more time, so the nail biting begins.

Mello-Bye-Bye-Prototypes Mello-Bye-Bye-Prototypes

Bye bye prototypes, this is the real deal!

The stages of hand-built prototypes are over, and we finally get on board real product samples, ready for production. For the first time all electronics, batteries and motors are finally brought into the freshly forged magnesium frame of the Mellow Drive. Nerdistan engineers immediately introduce it to our home-grown testing rig to see how well they get along. Instant best friends!

Mello-on-Tour Mello-on-Tour

Mellow on Tour

Mellow takes to the road to shake hands (and feet) with the public! Time to get off the computers and show the world the new design and improvements of the Mellow Drive. The Mellow team tours all over Europe to let people touch, feel and test ride the Drive, bringing on countless new members to the Endless Ride. Their voice and emotions are transmitted directly to our labs in Nerdistan, fueling development and making the Drive more impressive by the day.

Mellow-Final-Design-of-the-Mellow-Drive Mellow-Final-Design-of-the-Mellow-Drive

Final Design of the Mellow Drive

As the company grows up, so does the product. The Mellow designers put their heads together over the past months to transform the prototype into a new sleek design matching a smarter, simpler and more functional vision of electric skateboarding. But the new facelift wasn't just for looks, it also goes hand-in-hand with several technical improvements.

Mellow-Launch-of-the-Mellow-Candy-Store Mellow-Launch-of-the-Mellow-Candy-Store

Launch of the Mellow Candy Store

With the Kickstarter campaign a wrap, it's time to turn the idea into a living breathing business. The Mellow team has grown to twelve boardsports enthusiasts, made up of friends and supporters, each professionals in their own fields. “Taskforce Mellow” launches the online pre-order shop. Orders start to pour in – the line of people eager to become part of the Mellow family just keeps getting longer.

Mellow-Successfully-funded-with-Kickstarter Mellow-Successfully-funded-with-Kickstarter

Successfully funded with Kickstarter

Poor but sexy, Mellow´s two co-founders launch one of the first German Kickstarter campaigns. After 30 days of promoting Mellow on the streets and in the web via zillions of emails, comments and updates - it’s a success! With the help of more than 350 dedicated backers from all over the globe (thanks guys, you rock!) the Mellow Team smashes through its campaign target with pledges totaling more than 300% of their initial goal.

Mellow-Let’s-get-serious Mellow-Let’s-get-serious

Let’s get serious

After one year of preparing and searching for the best partners and suppliers Johannes and Kilian iron their shirts and meet up with the notary to finally found the Mellow Boards company.

Mellow-Prototype-of-a-dream Mellow-Prototype-of-a-dream

Prototype of a dream

Half a year after meeting Johannes, Kilian quits his job. Ambitiously obsessed to make the idea of Mellow become a technical reality he spends his days in Nerdistan. Calculating, winding, soldering, cursing, recalculating and finally coming back with the first prototype.

Mellow-The-guy-from-Nerdistan Mellow-The-guy-from-Nerdistan

The guy from Nerdistan

On a surf trip to Morocco after a good session at Anchor Point, Johannes meets Kilian. A long haired surfer dude who in his real life works as an electric engineer for BMW in Munich. „What a nerd.“, Johannes thinks. „What a freak.“, Kilian thinks. But it takes them a pizza and a good chat about the idea of Mellow to decide to join forces.

Mellow-Dreaming-of-the-Endless-Ride Mellow-Dreaming-of-the-Endless-Ride

Dreaming of the Endless Ride

A couple of years down the line Johannes is fully infected with the boardsports virus. Whenever time and money allow it, he’s shredding mountains or riding waves all over the world. But studying and working keep him from living this lifestyle 24/7. One day, flippin through a magazine, he stumbles over a picture of a bulky, petrol driven skateboard. This changes everything. The dream of the Endless Ride is born.

Mellow-Johannes-first-Board Mellow-Johannes-first-Board

The first Board

1990 is a year Johannes will never forget. Being born in the communist part of Germany he is 6 six years old when the Berlin Wall falls. But while the whole world is celebrating the peaceful reunification of the German nation for little Johannes a whole new world opens up when he gets his feet on his first skateboard.

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